SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2002 Dodge Neon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Dodge Neon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 173.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
173Owner complaints

Model-year median: 173

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2002 Dodge Neon

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 173 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 3 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Power Train: 36 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 28 reports
  • Electrical System: 25 reports
  • Air Bags: 22 reports
  • Structure: 21 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    116
    1999    337
    2000    146
    2001    173
    2002    202
    2003    94
    2004    95
    2005
    Compare all Neon years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Power Train
    36    Engine And Engine Cooling
    28    Electrical System
    25    Air Bags
    22    Structure
    21
    All reported categories
    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    17    Suspension
    15    Exterior Lighting
    11    Unknown Or Other
    8    Steering
    6    Engine
    5    Tires
    5    Equipment
    4    Seat Belts
    4    Vehicle Speed Control
    3    Visibility
    3    Fuel System, Gasoline
    2    Latches/locks/linkages
    1    Service Brakes
    1    Wheels
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    113 reports with mileage · 60 unknown

    NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

    What to inspect

    Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

    • Power Train. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    26 crash reports3 fire reports12 injury reports

    Equipment complaints

    4 reports
    Clear category filter
    Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2005
    Electrical SystemEquipment

    OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THIS CAR. EACH TIME I HAVE ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY A YEAR OLD BATTERY WOULD GO BAD. THE EXPLANATION LAST WEEK WAS "A SHORT IN THE BATTERY, NOT CAUSED BY THE CAR." SINCE THE FIRST 2 TIMES IT WAS REPLACED BY THE WARRANTY, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND TH…

    Read full complaint

    OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THIS CAR. EACH TIME I HAVE ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY A YEAR OLD BATTERY WOULD GO BAD. THE EXPLANATION LAST WEEK WAS "A SHORT IN THE BATTERY, NOT CAUSED BY THE CAR." SINCE THE FIRST 2 TIMES IT WAS REPLACED BY THE WARRANTY, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND THIS ISSUE. THIS TIME THE BATTERY WAS NOT COVERED. EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, IT HAS BEEN WITHOUT WARNING, NO LIGHTS FLASHING, NOTHING. JUST GO TO START THE CAR AND NOTHING. I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. CLEARLY, EITHER THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE BATTERIES BEING INSTALLED, OR THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR. EITHER WAY, IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE COMPANY. AS IT IS, I HAD TO SHELL OUT $150 LAST WEEK. *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10137642

    Mileage unknown · May 5, 2005
    Electrical SystemEquipment

    BACK IN 2003 I TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF AND IT WOULDNT START AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD SO I CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE THEY TOOK IT TO CARMAX IN LOS ANGELES, CA FOR AT THE TIME I WAS LIVING IN THE AREA. CARMAX TOLD ME THE BATTERY WAS DISLODGED I FOUND THIS FUNNY BECUASE I HAVE NEVER TOUCHED THE BATTERY THE VEH…

    Read full complaint

    BACK IN 2003 I TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF AND IT WOULDNT START AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD SO I CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE THEY TOOK IT TO CARMAX IN LOS ANGELES, CA FOR AT THE TIME I WAS LIVING IN THE AREA. CARMAX TOLD ME THE BATTERY WAS DISLODGED I FOUND THIS FUNNY BECUASE I HAVE NEVER TOUCHED THE BATTERY THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD. WHEN I HAD TURNED THE KEY ALL THE LIGHTS WENT CRAZY AND IT WOULDNT START. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE BATTERY HAD DRAINED ITSELF. WELL THEY CHANGED THE BATTERY AND EVERYTHING WAS OK UNTIL NOW. ABOUT 1 YEAR AND HALF LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON THEN THE SEATBELT LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND THE SPEDOMETER STARTED TO BLINK. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I GOT A JUMP TO GET HOME AND IT BLINKED THE WHOLE WAY THERE. I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF WHEN I GOT HOME. WHEN I WENT TO THE CAR IN THE MORNING TO GO TO WORK THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I CALED AAA AND THEY GAVE ME A JUMP AND I WENT TO THE AUTO PLACE AND GOT A BATTERY IT HAS BEEN A FEW HOURS AND ITS OK RIGHT NOW BUT FOR HOW LONG. THEN I READ ABOUT THIS PERSON HERE THAT WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DID AND SHE NEEDED TO HAVE HER CAR ALL REWIRED. I AM TAKING TO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SUGGEST THAT ANYONE ELSE DO THE SAME.

    NHTSA ODI #10119920

    Mileage unknown · May 22, 2004
    EquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

    THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES ON THE 2002 DODGE NEON SEEM TO HAVE MANY PROBLEMS AND I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. THE FRONT BRAKES (PADS AND ROTORS) HAD TO BE REPLACED AT AROUND 7000 MILES DUE TO WARPED ROTORS CAUSING SEVERE SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE DURING BRAKING. NOW AGAIN AT 17000 MILES THE VEHICLE EXIBITS THE SAME PROBLEM W…

    Read full complaint

    THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES ON THE 2002 DODGE NEON SEEM TO HAVE MANY PROBLEMS AND I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. THE FRONT BRAKES (PADS AND ROTORS) HAD TO BE REPLACED AT AROUND 7000 MILES DUE TO WARPED ROTORS CAUSING SEVERE SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE DURING BRAKING. NOW AGAIN AT 17000 MILES THE VEHICLE EXIBITS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE HAD A SEVERE SQUEAL SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED - IT WAS IN THREE SEPERATE TIMES FOR THIS. WE WERE TOLD THIS IS A NORMAL PROBLEM THAT ALL NEONS HAVE. THE FIRST TWO TIMES IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY CLEANED THE BREAKS AND SAID THEY WERE FINE. THE THIRD TIME WE WERE TOLD THE REAR SHOES WERE NO GOOD AND THE REAR DRUMS WERE RUINED AND NEEDED REPLACED. (AT 16500 OR SO MILES) I CALLED THE DODGE CORPORATION AND AFTER MANY CALLS THEY OFFERED THE PARTS ON THE REAR FREE BUT WE HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND I FEEL THE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDS IMPROVED TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPINING. THE VHEICLE IS A 2002 DODGE NEON SXT DRIVEN VERY LITTLE BY MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, A VERY EASY PERSON ON THE CAR SO THERE IS NO EXCESSIVE DRIVING BY ANY MEANS THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PROBLEM. REAR DRUMS SHOULD ALMOST NEVER NEED REPLACED, THEY SEEM TO LAST FOREVER ON MOST VEHICLES AND ROTORS DO WARP SOMETIMES BUT NOT TWO SETS IN 17000 MILES. I HAVE SEEN MANY NEONS EXIBIT THE REAR SQUEALING PROBLEM ON THE ROADS SO I KNOW THIS IS NOT JUST THIS CAR AND I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. BEN HODGES. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #10072996

    9,000 miles · Jul 13, 2003
    Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

    I HAVE A DODGE NEON 2002 WITH 10,000. MILES ON IT. RECENTLY MY CAR IDLES NOW BETWEEN 4-500 RPM. DRIVING MY CAR; CAME TO A STOP LIGHT MY CAR STALLED. NOW SITTING AT RED LIGHTS/ STOP SIGNS THE RPM'S DROPALL THE WAY TO 300 RPM CAR STARTS TO ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WI…

    Read full complaint

    I HAVE A DODGE NEON 2002 WITH 10,000. MILES ON IT. RECENTLY MY CAR IDLES NOW BETWEEN 4-500 RPM. DRIVING MY CAR; CAME TO A STOP LIGHT MY CAR STALLED. NOW SITTING AT RED LIGHTS/ STOP SIGNS THE RPM'S DROPALL THE WAY TO 300 RPM CAR STARTS TO ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. ONE THE TECH'S WHO TOOK THE CAR FOR A ROAD TEST SAID THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE COMPUTER. THE CAR IS DECIDING ON ITS OWN FOR THE RPM'S TO DROP BUT DOES NOT SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER ANALYSES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY ARE WAITING FOR A "FLASH UPGRADE TO BE INSTALLED"; ALSO THE CD PLAYER IN THE CAR HEATS UP THE CD'S BURNED MY HAND WHEN I TRIED TO TAKE IT OU. ON 7-9-03 THEY GAVE ME A LOANER AND ON 7-12-03 THEY TOOK IT BACK. THEY SAID THE ONLY REASON THEY GAVE ME THE LOANER IS BECAUSE I WAS UPSET. THEY REPLACED THE CD PLAYER BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING IS STILL NOT FIXED. ON 7-13-03 CAR STALLED AT A STOP SIGN. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. YOU NEED TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT DOING ANYTHING AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT'. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #10026009

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

    Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

    Defect investigations

    3

    EA06019 · Headlight Failure

    Opened Nov 22, 2006 · Closed Nov 7, 2007

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:fog Lights; Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

    THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.

    Additional source detail variants (4)

    Exterior Lighting:fog Lights

    THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.

    Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch

    THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.

    Exterior Lighting:headlights

    THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.

    Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

    THIS EA WAS OPENED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WOULD FAIL, CAUSING A LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE FOR OTHERS TEMPORARY LIGHTING WAS AVAILABLE BY PULLING ON THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH STALK TO ILLUMINATE HIGH BEAM LIGHTING.ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW A LOW AND DECLINING FAILURE TREND.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.

    PE06028 · Headlight Failure

    Opened Jul 28, 2006 · Closed Nov 22, 2006

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:fog Lights; Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

    ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.

    Additional source detail variants (4)

    Exterior Lighting:fog Lights

    ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.

    Exterior Lighting:fog Lights:switch

    ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.

    Exterior Lighting:headlights

    ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.

    Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

    ODI HAS REVIEWED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLE.THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A LOSS OF BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CONNECTING WIRING HARNESS.CONSUMERSNOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA (WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED) IS HEATING UP.IN SOME CASES, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE PLASTIC TRIM WOULD BEGIN TO MELT.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-019) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.

    PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate

    Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

    THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.